Patent GB-1231588-A (GB)
IPC: D04B7/00
Filed: 1967-09-27
Abstract: 1,231,588. Knitting. COURTAULDS Ltd. 26 Sept., 1968 [27 Sept., 1967; 22 July, 1968], Nos. 43923/67 and 34851/68. Headings D1C and D1K. A machine for knitting a jersey comprises two pairs of outer beds capable of overlapping a pair of inner beds so that two sleeves and a body may be knitted as three tubes one on each pair of beds after which they are traversed by the same yam carrier to connect them together, the number of wales in the sleeves and/or body being reduced by transferring stitches sideways and reducing the separation of the outer beds by the appropriate number of spaces. As shown, a V-bed knitting machine has two first beds 1 with needles 4 and two pairs of second beds 2, 3 at such an angle to beds 1 that their needles 5, 6, when raised, enter the upper parts of the tricks of beds 1 between the knock-over bits 7. Thus the tricks of beds 1 and beds 2 and 3 must be aligned during knitting, all the beds 2 and 3, and if desired beds 1, being laterally movable, needles 5, 6 being withdrawn during movement and beds 2 and 3 raised or bed 1 lowered.  Alternatively, the needles 5, 5, 6 do not share the tricks of needles 4 and beds 2, 3 have their own knocking over bits 8, 9 so that raising or lowering of the beds is not necessary during lateral movement. Beds 2, 3 may be beneath beds 1. Stitch transfer between beds and between needles of .the same bed may be effected by separate transfer elements or the needles may be of special construction. The ribbed parts of the body and sleeves are each knitted as a pair of separate strips using opposed beds acting together and the pairs of strips are aligned on opposed beds and then tubular knitting proceeds with suitable shaping by increasing the number of needles in operation and using three separate yarn carriers. When the tubular parts are to be joined, they are moved until adjacent, unless the intervening needles have been taken up by widening, and one yam carrier traverses them all. To avoid the formation of a hole at the underarm the first one or two courses may be knitted across the rear bed 2, front bed 1, rear bed 3, front bed 3, rear bed 1 and front bed 2. Other-, wise loops may be formed on the needles of the front beds adjacent the join when the rear beds are being knitted and knitted in as with the stitches on the needles on the reverse traverse when similar loops are formed on the appropriate needles of the rear beds. Otherwise the tubular portions may be overlapped and transferred so that the four stitches are carried on two needles on either, the first or second beds so narrowing the garment. Narrowing may be effected, after joining, by transferring the outer stitches on beds 1 to the next inner needles and moving beds 2, 3 inwards by one space. Otherwise, the innermost stitches of beds 2, 3 may be transferred to .the outermost operating needles of beds I or to the next outer needles of beds 2, 3. If beds 2, 3 meet before narrowing is completed narrowing may be completed on the outer operational needles of these beds or the stitches may be transferred all across the bed..When the narrowing is completed a collar may be knitted on or the garment may be completed and a separate collar attached. By reversing the traverse at the centre of the front, an opening may be formed all or part of the way up the front and with suitable shaping a V- neck may be formed. In a modification, the front and rear second beds 24, 26; 23, 25 are divided into outer and inner portions a and b and yarn carriers 28 to 33 are provided, stitches being transferrable between bed 21 and beds 24 and 26 and between bed 22 and beds 23 and 25. Rib strips are then formed on the pairs of beds 21, 24a; 21, 24b and 26b; 21, 26a and when completed, the strips are carried on beds 24a, 21, 26a. Then strips 37, 38, 39 are knitted similarly and put on beds 23a, 22, 25a. Bed portions 23b, 24b, 25b, 26b are moved out of position and the rib portions are aligned for knitting the tubular portions. Further bed portions 23c, 24c, 25c, 26 c  may be removable to allow portions 23a-26a to move inwards. Portions 23b, 25b and 24b, 26b may be combined.